For the first time in ten years blue tongue disease in cattle in Rhineland Palatinate demonstrated
For the first time in ten years blue tongue disease in cattle in Rhineland Palatinate demonstrated

The cattle and other animals dangerous to bluetongue for the first time in ten years, in Rhineland-Palatinate demonstrated. The entire state has been declared on Friday to the restricted area, as the spokesman of the national investigation office (LUA), Achim Ginkel, announced in Koblenz. Also in the Saarland there is a suspected case, a result of the audit is not expected for the coming Tuesday.

The virus of disease from serotype 8 (BTV-8) was discovered, according to the country untersuchungsamts Rhineland-Palatinate in a cattle population in a circle of Trier-Saarburg. A calf had already been, as a precaution, killed, said Ginkel. If more animals were slaughtered, not at first. The national reference laboratory at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Greifswald confirmed on Friday the suspects in the LUA. Two other suspected cases from the two bridges and the Saar Pfalz-Kreis would be investigated in the FLI, said the LUA-speaker.

in a Saarland-based cattle farming Palatinate operation in the Saar-circle there is a suspicion of BTV-8 infection. The blood sample of the animal had been tested at a commercial investigation in the LUA in Koblenz virologically positive. The suspicion must be by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut confirmed, as the Ministry of the environment announced in Saarbrücken. A killing of animals is not currently planned. The state office for consumer protection in Saarland ordered but a lock of the affected operation. Further measures, including a clinical examination of all cattle, were planned, informed the Ministry of the environment.

The blue tongue disease affects mainly sheep, goats and cattle. For humans, it is considered to be harmless. It is mosquito-transmitted via small blood-sucking between the animals.

The vaccine is not anywhere easily

The restricted zone in Rheinland-Pfalz must be at least two years. It restricts the Transport and trade of cattle, sheep and goats. Cattle, sheep and other susceptible animals should not be out of the restricted area brought, explained the LUA-speaker. This also applies to ova, semen and embryos. Anyone in the area cattle, sheep, goats, forest ruminants in pens, or llamas and alpacas, should inform immediately to the veterinary office for his district administration.